Double lung transplant starts cystic fibrosis patient's recovery

Her wait ended Thursday morning when doctors wheeled her into an operating room at UPMC Presbyterian for a lifesaving double-lung transplant.

"We are excited and scared," said Tammy Yoney, Morgan's mom, Thursday afternoon after Morgan emerged safely from surgery. "One of the hardest parts was just getting the organs. Now she's in for the fight of her life. She's got a long road to recovery."

Morgan Yoney, 22, of Spraggs, Greene County, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was 9 months old.

At age 15, she had a liver and double-lung transplant. The liver took, but her body rejected both lungs.

In January, Morgan went into respiratory and renal failure, requiring a tracheotomy. Her lung capacity was down to 16 percent before the donor was found, her mom said. Continue reading